Charles J. Pilliod Jr.

Charles J. Pilliod Jr. (20 October 1918-18 April 2016) was the US ambassador to Mexico from 4 November 1986 to 7 April 1989, succeeding John Gavin and preceding John D. Negroponte.

Biography
Charles J. Pilliod Jr. was born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio on 20 October 1918, and he served in the US Air Force from 1942 to 1945 during World War II, flying B-29s over China and Japan. From 1974 to 1983, he was CEO of the Goodyear tire company, transforming the company into a powerhouse, and he later gained experience as an export sales businessman in South America. In 1986, he was appointed US ambassador to Mexico, favoring behind-the-scenes discussions with the Mexican government over the issue of the illegal drug trade. He left office in 1989, and he died in 2016.